Research information to inform designs
Overview
This standard about researching information and ideas. Your research should be to a professional standard and based on any agreed design concept. Some of the working methods and techniques that you use will vary according to your design specialism.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
**Identify information
**
- identify relevant information about the history of the product, competitive products, the context, situation or location in which the product will be used and previous commissions undertaken
- research social, economic, environmental, sustainable, ethical and cultural developments which may affect the design
- identify relevant and realistic ergonomic solutions and identify any feasible options
- identify a wide range of sources of information relevant to the product and the design context
**Analyse information
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5. identify target users of the design and carry out an accurate analysis of their needs
6. explore visual sources using appropriate design media, techniques and technology
7. select information that contributes to the development of design ideas
8. check that analysis is based on best available information, given constraints of the brief
9. seek and explore ideas which are in line with agreed design concept
**Exploit research
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10.
11.
12.
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- the content of the brief and design objectives
- the purpose, scope and limits of the design objectives
- how to access relevant information about the history of the product, competitive products, the context, situation or location in which the product will be used and previous commissions undertaken
- design media, techniques, technology, documents, people and professional or trade organisations from which you can obtain relevant information
- how to structure and conduct meetings or interviews
- how to carry out qualitative and quantitative data analysis
- how to evaluate target user needs
- the system to evaluate and verify research findings
- how to access, collate and record visual source materials
- how to document your research
- how to present research findings to others
- how cost, time, market, social, environmental, sustainable, ethical and cultural considerations may affect the realisation of a brief
- the importance and role of ergonomics in the design process
- sources of advice on technical, legal and regulatory requirements and constraints and how to access them
- the procedure to select appropriate traditional and digital design media
- information about the use of design and presentation media, techniques and technology